As the opening international break of the season begins its three-week spell, Premier League managers are left in a difficult position, regardless of their team’s start to the campaign.
Clubs enjoying positive momentum will naturally want to keep playing while they are performing well, while those falling below expectations are almost forced to dwell on negative results, with the inability to put things right on the pitch for several weeks.
With faltering managers and squads under pressure, the time must be used wisely on the training ground to find a formula capable of producing better results. However, this ‘luxury’ of time is not always guaranteed, even with only five games of the league campaign played.
Already this season, three EFL coaches have been relieved of their duties, with Paul Heckingbottom leaving Preston North End, Michael Duff departing Wycombe Wanderers and Peterborough United parting ways with Luke Williams.
Although there have been no immediate managerial departures in the English top flight, several managers may have reason for concern as the international break provides clubs with time to assess their situations.
Which Premier League Managers Are Under Pressure?
Roberto De Zerbi - Tottenham Hotspur
After successfully steering Tottenham to safety from the previous season’s woes and overseeing more than £300 million of summer spending, De Zerbi’s side have gone from bad to worse - or, at the very least, failed to gel just yet.
Two goals and no wins from their opening five games is a poor return for any club and cannot continue for much longer.
Regarding his position, De Zerbi has at least entered a club crying out for stability and normality after two consecutive relegation battles. However, for Spurs, things still need to click sooner rather than later.
Michael Carrick - Manchester United
Lauded as a hero in the summer, Carrick has struggled to maintain last season’s levels. An opening-day defeat to promoted Hull City, falling short against Manchester City despite their opponents being reduced to 10 men, and fumbling a 2-0 lead against Brighton in the Carabao Cup have all increased external pressure on his position.
However, Carrick called it “ridiculous” to suggest Manchester United’s result against Fulham would be a ‘make-or-break’ fixture.
Still, with the Red Devils’ first game back coming against the aforementioned Spurs and De Zerbi, online fans have already dubbed it ‘El Sackico’.
Alvaro Arbeloa - Fulham
Arbeloa’s introduction to English football management has not been made easy. He stepped into the role after Marco Silva’s five-year spell at Fulham, with several key players also departing.
The Spaniard has instead brought in a number of young players, including two Real Madrid players he had managed shortly before taking the job.
Beyond the poor results, reports of squad unrest and cryptic social-media messages from players have added fuel to the fire.
However, defensive improvements have been evident in recent draws against Liverpool and Manchester United, offering some encouragement for Arbeloa to build on.
Pierre Sage - Crystal Palace
Similarly to Arbeloa, Sage has entered his first English managerial role during a major transitional period at Palace, replacing Oliver Glasner while dealing with a lack of recruitment opportunities, European football and the availability issues surrounding attacking duo Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Though, the Eagles have begun their Europa League campaign positively with a dominant 4-0 win over Lech Poznań and, statistically, should be slightly better off than their early PL results suggest.
Strong performances against Fulham and Leeds also indicate that Sage can instil his ideas at the club, with little reason for concern just yet.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Three-Week International Break?
A huge caveat is that squads are often depleted by international call-ups, while individual holidays can also eat into the available time.
Given the length of the break, managers and head coaches cannot simply spend three weeks working on their style of play and mentality with a full squad in the same way they might during pre-season.
With the break coming so early in the season, players should not necessarily be in need of a lengthy period to rest and recover either.
Players away on international duty are also vulnerable to fatigue and injury, both of which are largely beyond a club’s control.
This is becoming increasingly relevant as players withdraw from friendlies and qualifiers for a variety of reasons, or clubs attempt to protect their key assets behind the scenes.
Even if the negatives seemingly outweigh the positives, time can still be a valuable asset. In this case, the break gives managers and players a chance to reset, develop a plan of action and improve team morale with those available. It is useful time, but hardly a perfect trade-off.
How Often Do Premier League Clubs Change Managers During International Breaks?
Somewhat luckily, Premier League managers have rarely been replaced this early in the season, particularly during an international break. The numbers from the past decade underline just how uncommon it is.
Only two managerial changes have been made during the September international break in the last 10 seasons, compared to two in October and six in November.
The figures suggest that clubs are generally reluctant to use an international break as the time to make a change, despite the opportunity to give a new manager time to settle into a new environment and begin implementing something different.
However, that does not mean managers are necessarily safe. Across the past 10 campaigns, nine Premier League managers had already left their positions by the time the second international break arrived, with this season's second break due to begin in early November.
This year's situation is also slightly different. The opening international break is three weeks long rather than the usual two, giving clubs an unusually long window to consider their next move.
It remains unlikely, but clubs could feel more inclined to use that extra time if they believe a major mistake has been made.
Tony Pulis on Why International Breaks Can Lead to Manager Changes
Speaking to the BBC, former West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough and Stoke City boss Tony Pulis offered his perspective on the pressure surrounding football managers during international breaks.
"With the first international break upon us, rumblings around certain clubs that have started the season poorly have surfaced.
"In my time, the October/November international breaks, the pause just after the Christmas period, and then early March would be the three sticking points for any manager who was struggling with results.
"Why these breaks are used for clubs to make changes is plain to see. The pause in the season gives football clubs the chance to appoint a new manager with time for them to settle into their new role, to take stock of the surroundings, staff and time to prepare for their first game in charge.
"After Christmas, usually the first game is an FA Cup match, which again gives the new boss a chance close up to see what they have to work with. First impressions can be a vital starting point, so again the manager has time to prepare and deliver their principles to the lads.
"Personally, I've joined quite a few of my clubs midway through seasons, and have left a few clubs going the other way, but I do honestly believe that those international breaks, for the reasons I've given, definitely heighten the chances of struggling managers getting the sack.
"I don't see this September break as a flashing light, it is too early in the season, but from then on in, the dates I have mentioned really do come into play.
"But this early international break doesn't help any managers.
"Whether your team is winning or losing, on both accounts, it's a nightmare. If you're winning you want to keep playing, and yet if you've started badly as a manager you want more time to put it right. Players travelling and the chance of injuries at such an early stage of the season is completely bonkers in my opinion."
